Seaplane float construction



April 7 3 J. 1.. BERNARD 1,800,167

SEAPLANE FLOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 5, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Iri venior A florney April 7, 1931. J. L. BERNARD SEAPLANE FLOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 5, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nvcnlor e/Tflfierizara B ga A llomey April 7, 1931. J. L. BERNARD SEAPLANE FLOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov.

5. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet Inventor ZZZLZFVvwWd By fl A llomey Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES JAMES L. BERNARD, OF TOLEDO, OHIO SEAILANE FLOAT CONSTRUCTION Application filed November 5, 1930. Serial No. 493,677.

The present invention relates to a float construction for seaplanes and has for its prime object to provide means whereby the seaplane may be taxied from the water on to the land, a float, barge, or the like.

Another very important object of the in vention resides in the provision of a seaplane float having endless belts arranged on the bottom thereof for running on land and the like when out of the water. 7

A still further Very important object of the invention resides in the provision of a taxiing device for seaplanes of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture and install, thoroughly eflicient and reliable in use and operation, compact and convenient in its arrangement of parts, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description procee-ds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a seaplane tariing out of the water on to the land,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the front end of the float,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section therethrough,

one of the belt tighteners taken substantially on the line 6-6 of' Figure 7 Figure 7 is a detail elevation thereof, and

Figure 8 is a transverse section therethrough taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes the fuses lage of a seaplane having wing construction 6 and a float 7 connected with the fuselage by struts 8 in a conventional manner. The parts thus far referred to are conventional except as to the modification in the float 7 as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Longitudinally arranged on the center of the bottom oflthe float is an inverted channel to the float 7 by rivets 10 or in any other suitable manner. Between the front and rear of these side members 9 there are mounted rollers 11 on shafts 12 ournalled in bearings 14 slidable in slots 15 provided longitudinally of the members 9.

The bearing 14 is mounted in a plate 16 swivelly connected with which is a screw 17 threaded through a bracket 18 on the member 5.

Belt tighteners are formed as will be more apparent as the description proceeds. Also between the sides 9 there are journalled on shafts 19 a plurality of rollers 20. The shafts 19 extend through openings in the sides 9 and on one end are provided with heads 21 anchored in place to one of the sides by screws 22 for ease of assembly and dis assembly; i

A pair of endless rubber bolts 23 are trained over these pulleys and 11 and by adjusting the pulleys 11 as heretofore explained the belts may be tightened as required. It will be noted that the run ofthe front belt 23 is curved because otthc curvature of the bottom of the float and therefore an'idler must be provided as at 25. v

The rivet connection 10 with the float is accomplished by means of members26 which are secured on the central bottom portion of the float.

, A bumper 29 is provided at the frontend ofthe float.

From the above detailed description it will be seen that the seaplane may taxi out of the frame formed by two side members 9 secured 5m 2 p T f 1,800,167

water on to the land as is indicated'in Figure 1 or on to a barge, or any other floating de Vice in the water as may be arranged.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantages of this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable inthe.

1. Means for permitting an aeroplane pro# vided with a. float to pass from body of water onto the land or other solid objects,

float having an upwardly and forwardly curved bottom part atits front portion,

comprising a pair of spaced depending [plates connected with the central portion of the bottom of the float andv forming a chan-' nel, said channel extending from the tor-- ward end oi the curved portion of the bot-' tom rearwardly to a point beyond the trans= verse center of the float, rollers arranged 1n the channel, one of: the rollers located ad]acenteach end of the channel, and'means for ad usting each of said rollers towards and away from the end-of the channel, an endless member passing over the rollers in the curved portion of the bottom, an endless member passingxover the remaining rollers, said rollers having portions projecting slightly beyond-the lower edges of the channel form ing members whereby the lower reaches of the endless members are located below the .said'lower edges of the channel forming members. 7

2. Means for permitting an aeroplaneprovided with a float to pass fromv a body of water onto the land or other solid objects,

said-float having an upwardly and forwardly curved bottom part at its front'portion, comprisinga pair of spaced depending plates connected with the. central portion of the bottom or the float and forming a channel,

said channel extending from the forward I end of thecnrved portion of the bottom rear- ,wardly to' a-point beyond the transverse center of the float, rollers arranged in the channel, one of the rollers located-adjacent each end of the channel, and means for adjusting each of saidrollers towards and away from tne end or" the channel, an endless member :passing over therollers in the curved "por-,

tion of the bottom, an endless member pass- 7 mg over the remaining rollers, said rollers having portions pro]ect1ng slightly beyond the lower edges of the channel-forming members whereby the lower reachesof the endless members are located below the said lower edges of the channel-forming members, and an idler roller located in the channel for engaging the upper reach of the'front less member. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES L. BERNARD. 

